Demographic, clinical and occupational characteristics associated with early onset of delivery: findings from the Duke Health and Safety Surveillance System, 2001-2004.
BACKGROUND
This cross-sectional study explores associations between preterm delivery and demographic, clinical and occupational characteristics of women employed within a university and health system.


METHODS
A comprehensive surveillance system linking individual-level data from Human Resources, medical insurance claims and a job-exposure matrix was used to identify women with a single live birth between 2001 and 2004 and describe maternal characteristics during pregnancy.


RESULTS
Preterm delivery occurred in 7.1% (n = 74) of the 1,040 women, a lower preterm delivery prevalence than observed in the general U.S. population. Nearly all (>99.5%) women utilized prenatal care services. Prevalence of preterm delivery was highest for inpatient nurses, nurses' aides and office staff. In multivariate analyses, preterm delivery was positively associated with several clinical conditions: placenta previa, diabetes and cardiovascular disorder/disease.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed associations between preterm delivery and several previously indicated clinical conditions. Further study of the effect of job characteristics on preterm delivery is warranted.
Schoenfisch
Ashley L
AL
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA. ashley.schoenfisch@duke.edu
Dement
John M
JM
Rodríguez-Acosta
Rosa L
RL
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009657:North Carolina; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010923:Placenta Previa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult